Morocco’s AFCON Fracture: Saiss laments a divided front and a coach’s exit

Excerpts from the interview

Romain Saiss, the Morocco captain, appeared on a Rothen s enflamme show on Friday on the French radio station RMC. Though he has retired from international duty after Morocco lost the AFCON 2025 final to Senegal, the 35-year-old defender with Al Sadd remains closely connected to the Lions of the Atlas.

The discussion touched on the current state of the national team and the impact of Walid Regraki's departure.

Romain Saiss, you currently play for Al Sadd in Doha, how are things going? Things could have gone better. What is happening in the world today is dramatic. We feel safe here; Qatar is handling things well and communicates often. People are calm outside; life goes on despite the situation.

Walid Regraki has left his post as coach of Morocco. Are you disappointed? I am disappointed for the players. We built something strong with the coach and he created a strong link between players and staff. It was a solid foundation for the team. I am a little frustrated because we wanted him to finish his spell with the World Cup. He gave a lot and achieved exceptional results, and with him the mentality changed. We wish his successor Mohamed Wahbi can do at least as well.

Read also: a Moroccan professional stirs a Europa and Saudi clash after strong numbers; another piece notes the cautionary tale from a different voice on the team.

We feel the AFCON final loss left a lasting disappointment. Reaching the final was exceptional; we prepared for victory and the loss leaves marks. The World Cup approaching will help shift focus to something else rather than dwelling on the setback.

The World Cup is approaching. A message to Moroccan fans: thank you for always backing us. There is a new coach, a new staff, perhaps new players. Once the tournament starts we must be behind the team with full force. There were difficult moments; in the first two matches we faced jeers directed at the coach or the team. Whenever we achieved good results, it happened when there was united support behind the team.

We must learn from AFCON; there were moments of complexity, and stepping back can help build a stronger future. The road ahead is bright if we stay united and focused on giving our best on the world stage.

Punchline: If football is life, AFCON was basically a long coffee break with a dramatic twist. Punchline 2: Don’t worry, Morocco fans—our defense is strong enough to buffer even the worst stage fright of a postfinal press conference.